Headlines – December 29/17

  • Could Dow hit 25,000before 2018? Read story
  • US dollar slips to three-month lows, heads for worst year since 2003. Read story
  • Bitcoin bounces above $14,000 as investors find a bottom. Read story
  • The most important things you should do before 2018 to take advantage of the US tax reform. Read story
  • Italy’s President calls national election as country grapples with economic pain. Read story
  • Another Arctic blast poised to usher in 2018. Read story
  • Record breaking winter cold? Don’t worry, the climate explainers have it covered. Read story
  • What happens when a Russiagate skeptic debates a professional Russiagater? Read story
  • Apple apologizes for slowing down older iPhones. Read story
  • China tests first hypersonic weapon. Read story
  • China snares innocent and guilty alike to build world’s biggest DNA database. Read story
  • Murder in America: What makes cities more dangerous. Read story
  • Octopuses are so clever, scientists missed a species right under their noses. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Headlines – December 28/17

  • Wall St opens higher in muted holiday trading. Read story
  • Bitcoin tumbles as South Korea plans crackdown on cryptoassets. Read story
  • Exmo Bitcoin exchange chief executive kidnapped in Kiev. Read story
  • Copper’s rally is a longest in a generation. Read story
  • 30,417,609 Americans paid $0 in taxes, received $89.6 billion in refunds. Read story
  • Apple’s Tim Cook paid $102 million this year, including $98 million in bonuses. Read story
  • The number of Social Security beneficiaries hit record 61,859,250 in November. Read story
  • South Korea says ‘comfort women’ deal flawed, but Japan warns against change. Read story
  • Baltimore sets record with 343 homicides in 2017. Read story
  • NY city murder rates on pace to drop to 1950s level. Read story
  • US to resume full visa service in Turkey. Read story
  • Bitter cold across much northern US turns deadly. Read story
  • The most common password is “123456” – but not (entirely) because humans are dumb. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!

Update – December 23/17

There is ample evidence that crypto coins are on a wild ride, so what is the prudent investor to do? At Crypto Trend we are market contrarians, meaning that when the mob moves left, we think it’s time to move right, but we also suggest having an exit strategy to limit risks and losses.

Lately, almost all Crypto Coin (CC) prices have taken a hit …

Bitcoin – down over 22%   Ethereum – down 32%   Litecoin – down 30%

This level of volatility is not uncommon, as digital currencies have seen multiple violent corrections.  Although painful in the short term, downturns are expected in this market, but it does not keep CC’s down for long.  Remember that Bitcoin broke the $19,000 USD mark in December.

This latest sell-off has a few causes, including …

–          the abrupt introduction of Bitcoin Cash to the Coinbase Exchange

–          allegations of insider trading at the Coinbase Exchange

–          the hack of Youbit, the South Korean Exchange

–          the inventor of Litecoin, Charlie Lee, divesting all his Litecoin

At Crypto Trend we are confident that the digital currency market is here to stay.  Crypto Trend is here because this is a maturing market, not a dying one. As with all investments it is important to take gains when they are available, putting some money back in your pocket when profits are at hand, while keeping some invested for future profits.  To track CC prices, we find this to be a useful website:   http://cryptotrend.io/#/

Just remember that CC prices change quickly and frequently – we’re talking about every few minutes, so this is an extremely “dynamic” market space.

Following the lead by the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange), the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) started selling Bitcoin Futures early this week, expanding the ability of large institutional and professional investors to get in on the Bitcoin frenzy within the walls of a regulated exchange.  Trading was mixed to start, however, these activities, plus the myriad of crypto currency news stories, pushed the price of Bitcoin to almost $20,000 USD, which has corrected over the last few days by about 25%.  Now the CBOE has applied to the SEC to launch 6 Bitcoin based ETF’s.  For the smaller retail investor, E*Trade has just announced that it will list CBOE futures.  Other exchanges, such as TD Ameritrade and ALLY Financial both list Bitcoin futures.  This all contributes to the evidence that crypto currencies are moving rapidly toward the mainstream, and provides strong indications that CC’s will be with us for a long time.

You no doubt have noticed the mainstream media has suddenly become obsessed with all things “crypto.” But unfortunately, like most things the mainstream media covers, they really have no understanding of what they’re talking about.  Not even a week ago these folks were trumpeting the record highs in Bitcoin, forecasting prices were heading to the moon, but today, their headlines are proclaiming the “end of the crypto bubble.”

The problem with the mainstream media is they fail to grasp that these wild swings are normal in this “wild west” sector. We saw last week how Long Island Ice Tea changed its name to Long Island Blockchain.  This is a new mania, similar to what we saw in the DOT COM bull market, where everyone changed their name to give the appearance of a tech company. Today, we are seeing companies include “Crypto” or “Blockchain” in their name.

We will continue to keep you updated!

Crypto TREND Premium

 In less than two weeks, our Crypto TREND Premium service if off to a great start. The five recommendations are up an average of 54.8%, with the best performer up 121%, and the worst down 9.7%. The other three had gains of 57%, 55%, and 51%. And that is in just 12 days!!

While it’s possible this crypto bubble is about to pop and the boom could end any time, as noted above, we believe that this is a maturing market, and that Blockchain is a disruptive technology, one that will change the way business is conducted, simiilar to how the internet changed our lives.

The wild moves in the past month, and last week’s decline, are well within normal range in this frenzied sector.  If you believe like we do, that crypto and especially the blockchain technology have the potential to be global game changers, and you are interested in speculating on cryptocurrencies, then this recent correction is giving you a great opportunity to buy in at lower prices.

We have a number of cryptos and stocks in our cross-hairs, and will be pulling the trigger on them soon.

If you are ready to dip your toe into this sector, you really want to subscribe to our Crypto TREND – Premium service to be your guide in this new and exciting market.  We are currently offering a 25% Early Bird discount off the regular price of $699.95, meaning you pay only $525.00.

If you do decide to get on board in this sector, understand that more than any other sector, investing here will be only for your most speculative capital, money that you can afford to lose.

It is going to be a wild ride, and if you want to climb on board, Click Here.

 Stay Tuned!!

Headlines – December 22/17

  • Bitcoin tumbles more than 25% as sharks ‘beginning to circle’. Read story
  • Separatists win Catalan election. Read story
  • US new home sales surge in November to highest level since 2007. Read story
  • US consumer spending tops forecasts as inflation accelerates. Read story
  • Mortgage rates inch up, and some fear a tax-cut fueled surge is coming. Read story
  • Apple sued after it admits it slowed down older iPhones. Read story
  • FBI’s top lawyer said to be reassigned. Read story
  • NBA enjoys ratings renaissance as NFL flounder. Read story
  • In Silicon Valley, tax bill pays dividends for workers. Read story
  • Eric Schmidt stepping down at Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Read story
  • One sure-fire prediction for 2018: Americans will take on more debt. Read story
  • Jerusalem: Palestine leader Abbas spurns US peace plans. Read story
  • Georgia approves first US nuclear reactor since 1978. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!

Headlines – December 21/17

  • US GDP at 3.2%, fastest pace in more than two years. Read story
  • Strong Canadian inflation, retail sales lift bets for rate hike in new year. Read story
  • Apple admits to slowing down some older devices. Read story
  • Bitcoin tumbles 15% in steepest decline since futures trading. Read story
  • US House unveils new stop-gap funding bill to avert shutdown. Read story
  • Long Island Ice Tea stock soars 500% after changing its name to Long Blockchain. Read story
  • OPEC starts working on exit strategy from oil cuts. Read story
  • More than a dozen injured as driver deliberately rams vehicle into Melbourne crowd. Read story
  • DOJ looking into Clinton involvement in Uranium One deal. Read story
  • Salvation Army bell ringer beaten after wishing man ‘Merry Christmas’. Read story
  • What will happen when net neutrality is gone? Read story
  • Subprime auto defaults are soaring, and private-equity firms have no way out. Read story
  • Euro holds steady ahead of Catalan elections; dollar holds steady. Read story
  • Airline battle growing pilot shortage that could reach crisis level. Read story
  • Online clothing rentals on the rise. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!

Headlines – December 20/17

  • Wall St opens higher as tax bill nears passage. Read story
  • Treasuries extend selloff after Senate passes tax bill. Read story
  • Coinbase looks at insider trading after offering Bitcoin Cash. Read story
  • Litecoin founder Charlie Lee says he has “sold and donated” all his holdings. Read story
  • Why a dot-com-style collapse in Bitcoin won’t kill blockchain. Read story
  • The Indian wedding that bet on Bitcoin. Read story
  • Canadian grocery giant Loblaws admits to price-fixing scheme spanning more than 14 years. Read story
  • Uber is officially a cab firm, says court. Read story
  • Cohn says he is dumbfounded by tax plan’s unpopularity. Read story
  • Everything apple will be working on in 2018. Read story
  • EU executive moves to punish Poland over court reform. Read story
  • A renewable energy company is allegedly getting workers sick and firing them. Read story
  • Saudi Arabia to freeze more bank accounts in crackdown. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Headlines – December 19/17

  • S&P, Dow higher as tax bill vote draws near. Read story
  • House plans early tax vote, Democrats  plan drama. Read story
  • US ready to ‘denuclearise’ N Korea. Read story
  • Why you should dump that loser stock in 2017 and harvest the tax loss. Read story
  • IMF warns one of the most crowded bond trades near tipping point. Read story
  • Boeing and Bombardier set to clash in trade row hearing. Read story
  • Small Fintech company surges 2,600% in a week after announcing it’s a crypto company. Read story
  • Single-family housing starts, permits hit 10-year high. Read story
  • Saudis down Yemen rebel missile before it strikes palace. Read story
  • Amtrak safety record under scrutiny even before deadly derailment. Read story
  • Scientist confirm there was life on earth 3.5 million years ago. Read story
  • World’s first floating nation planned for 2020. Read story
  • Baltimore in “downward spiral” as residents cannot afford rising water bills. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!

Headlines – December 18/17

  • Bank rally leads stocks to records on tax-plan optimism.  Read story
  • Bitcoin futures on the world’s biggest derivative exchange signal the boom isn’t over yet. Read story
  • Gold extends rally as dollar wobbles. Read story
  • Last-minute tax break for investors ‘air dropped’ on Capital Hill. Read story
  • US taxpayers rush to claim deductions under threat from tax bill. Read story
  • Police call death of Canadian billionaire and wife ‘suspicious’. Read story
  • Power outage leaves tens of thousands stranded in darkness at world’s largest airport. Read story
  • Hunter Harrison, railway legend who led CN & CP, dies at 73. Read story
  • He stole $100 million from his clients. Now he lives in luxury on Cotes d’ Azur. Read story
  • Elon Musk calls transit expert an ‘idiot’, and then the ‘idiot’ fires back. Read story
  • EU to investigate Ikea’s tax affairs. Read story
  • New security strategy drops climate change from threat list. Read story
  • Under Armour stocks soars, triggers new bull markets after analyst upgrade. Read story
  • Hershey to buy Amplify Snack in $1.6 billion bet on healthy snacks. Read story
  • Cities facing crises as RVs becoming home of last resort. Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!

More crypto questions answered

Below we answer two of the more frequent questions we are receiving:

1. Can you suggest some crypto exchanges to use?

There is a plethora of exchange sites available and each has its pros and cons. The services and fees seem to be changing quite frequently, so be sure to verify the fees and exchange rates each time you make a transaction.

When assessing various exchanges it really depends on how often you plan to make purchases or trades.  Here are the key criteria that we focus on:

Fees

Check each exchange that you are thinking of using. Most of the ones we checked do have fee-related information on their sites. Prior to depositing any funding, be sure you understand the deposit, transaction, and withdrawal fees. Fees can differ substantially depending on the exchange you use.

Exchange rates

This is an area you need to watch closely. As highlighted in The Trend Letter every week, currency exchange rates fluctuate all the time. Not all exchanges offer good exchange rates, so you need to check with each transaction. We have seen variances of up to 10%, so shop around.

Methods of Payment

Especially when getting started, you want an exchange that allows you to fund in a fiat currency ($US, $CAN, Euro etc), not all exchanges do. Then you want to know what payment methods are available on the exchange. Do they allow credit card,  debit card, wire transfer, etc.? For each payment method, most exchanges charge different fees, so confirm each time you fund from fiat, and when exchanging between different cryptocurrencies, or when you transfer to someone else (eg: purchase a product via Bitcoin).

Verification

Most of the cryptocurrency trading exchanges require some sort of ID verification in order to make deposits and withdrawals. In some cases this verification can take a day or more, and can be a bit tedious, but remember it is done to protect from scams and money laundering.

Location

Depending where you are accessing from, there are some restrictions on user functionality based on geographic location. Check with the exchange you want to join to ensure you will have full access to all tools and functions,

Here is a list of some of the more popular exchanges:

Coinbase
One of the major exchanges, based in the USA, with many subsidiaries around the world.  Coinbase is relatively easy for new investors to use, however transaction fees are higher than many other exchanges.  As with most CC Exchanges, they permit only a low initial funding which will increase over time as trust is earned.  Currently, Coinbase only has three cryptocurrencies available. Transferring your CC’s to your digital wallet is easy and free.
Web Site: https://www.coinbase.com

Kraken
Based in San Francisco, and very popular with Bitcoin and Ethereum investors in Europe, Kraken has a solid reputation and a good selection of CC’s, and intends to add more in future.  Fees are in line with other exchange averages, and they have good charting tools using TradingView.
Web Site: https www.kraken.com

Coinsquare
A Canadian exchange based in Toronto, which bodes well, as Canada has a sound financial and regulatory environment.  Coinsquare has a unique bundle of offerings, such as gold bars, silver bars, silver coins, as well as a good variety of CC’s and global currencies.  They also feature a “Quick Trade” window for very fast quotes and transactions.  Fees are in line with most other CC Exchanges.
Web Site: https://coinsquare.io

Cex.io
Cex.io provides a wide range of services for using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The platform lets users easily trade fiat money with cryptocurrencies and conversely, cryptocurrencies for fiat money. For those looking to trade bitcoins professionally, the platform offers personalized and user-friendly trading dashboards and margin trading. Alternatively, CEX also offers a brokerage service which provides novice traders an extremely simple way to buy Bitcoin at prices that are more or less in line with the market rate. The Cex.io website is secure and intuitive and cryptocurrencies can be stored in safe cold storage.
Web Site: https://cex.io/

QuadrigaCX
Another Canadian exchange, this one based in Vancouver, with a current selection of seven CC’s.  The web site is well designed and easy to navigate.  Funding options are varied and fees are a little higher than average.  The exchange does not have charting or analytical tools, but is a solid contender in the small scale exchange space, with good security and performance.
Web Site:  https://www.quadrigacx.com/

2. With many countries looking to regulate Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) what does that mean for cryptocurrencies?

ICOs are a form of crowdfunding that allows companies to raise funds by offering a digital token.  The ICO craze has gotten out of hand. In the first half of the year, ICOs raised more than $1 billion for blockchain-based projects—many of which consist of little more than a white paper and some marketing spiel about disrupting various industries with a new kind of Internet money.

It doesn’t take a financial genius to understand that many ICOs operate like classic pump and dump scams or pyramid schemes. Get people to throw money behind an asset or opportunity they don’t understand all that well; hope the price of the mostly worthless junk inflates; cash out. There are too many hucksters out there simply looking to make a quick buck.

This past June, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it would be increasing ICO regulation. In September, China stepped in and outlawed ICOs, and later in September South Korea followed China’s lead.  There are now over 30 countries looking to regulate ICOs.

We see this as a positive step to legitimize the ICO process. Regulation would help the crack down on fraud, which helps bolster public confidence over the long haul. It is another step along with regulation through the Bitcoin futures trading that recently opened on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) on Sunday, and the coming futures trading on the CME exchange later in December.

_______________

The Crypto TREND Premium service is for those who are ready to dip their toes into this “wild West” sector, one that is very volatile, but with that risk  comes the potential for some spectacular gains. Understand, this sector is not for the weak of heart.

Crypto TREND Premium’s first three recommendations are doing very well, after only a few days. There will be two more recommendations going out late today or early tomorrow, so if you are ready to take the plunge, don’t miss these new recommendations.

For the next week we are offering a 25% discount off the regular price of $699.95, meaning you pay only $525.00.

It is going to be a wild ride, and if you want to climb on board, click here.

Headlines – December 13/17

  • US stocks gain, dollar weakens on price data. Read story
  • Democrat Jones defeats Roy Moore In Alabama election upset.  Read story
  • What Alabama upset means for Trump. Read story
  • With rate hike in the bag, Fed may hint at Trump effect on economy. Read story
  • Dubai billionaire, Nickelodeon join Speilberg backing VR startup. Read story
  • How to give the gift of Bitcoin this holiday season. Read story
  • Ever increasing taxes driving taxpayers out of Illinois. Read story
  • People mortgaging their homes to buy Bitcoin. Read story
  • A Disney deal for Fox is coming within days. Read story
  • Got $1 million to retire? Here’s how long it will last, by US state. Read story
  • Would you pay a ‘climate tax’ on red meat? Read story
  • Would the new tax plan mean the end of Social Security and Medicare as we know it? Read story
  • On the lighter side. Check it out!

Stay tuned!